See photos from the Art Van 2012 Santa Parade in downtown Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- As I watched the bands, floats, and balloons parade on by from the second floor of the MLive hub on Monroe Ave, MLive photographer Matt Busch was on the streets (and sometimes on the floats) taking some great pictures of this year's Art Van Santa Parade.

If you couldn't come downtown and missed the live webcast on MLive.com or the television broadcast on WOOD-TV8, you can still get into the holiday spirit with the gallery of photos here on Mlive.com.

Memorable entries this year included the Clydesdale horses, live reindeer, and even a powerboat pulling a pyramid of skiers. Not to mention Santa himself with a 25 foot inflatable Rudolph balloon leading the way down Monroe.

I even spied MLive's very own statewide entertainment reporter John Gonzalez waving to the crowd. You can see his personal photo gallery here.

Happy Holidays from all of us at MLive.com and The Grand Rapids Press.